Book title: The Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2)
Author: Libba Bray
Happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates it. It’s the perfect time to read some spooky books, don’t you think? In the spirit of Halloween, I’ve decided to edit and post a review that’s been on my draft for almost a month. I really enjoy The Lair of Dreams, but it is one of those books that’s difficult to review without spoiling the story. I try my best not to spoil anything of importance.
Note: this review contains spoiler from the 1st book, The Diviners.
Official summary
After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.
Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.
As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?
In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.
Review
The Lair of Dreams is the second book in The Diviners series. I remembered enjoying the first book when I saw The Lair of Dreams in the google play books store so I decided to buy it.
I have to admit, I didn’t have high hopes for this book seeing that: a) it’s a sequel and I have been let down by sequels many times and b) although I enjoy the first one, it didn’t really stay with me. I have forgotten nearly all the characters when I started reading this one. I am glad to tell you that I was wrong for underestimating it. The Lair of Dreams is more than a worthy sequel, just as creepy as the first one but complemented by some new characters (well okay, just one, but still…) that bring new flavors to the series.
We have met Henry in The Diviners, but here his story took more central role. We get to know Henry the easy-charmer, Henry the dreamer, and I just wish he could be my best friend. Then, we met Ling Chan, a clever Chinatown girl who loves science. I cannot describe her enough, but she’s really wonderful. Evie is the third protagonist. She is still her old self, just more extravagant and fabulous.
The story centers about a sleeping sickness that hits the Chinatown then began spreading. People will fall asleep and cannot woke up. Meanwhile, diviners become the next big thing in New York. Evie is becoming a celebrity in her own right, all the while dodging a maybe-maybe-not-love triangle. There’s considerably less Jericho, but more Sam Lloyd in this book and his story is an intriguing one. So there are many many stories told in The Lair of Dreams, but it somehow works. The thing about Libba Bray’s writing is her ability to weave multiple complicated story lines into a single great plot without making it felt forced. She’s also very good with historical type of story, able to bring you back to 1920’s New York City.
Like I mention before, this book is creepy. There are some scenes that actually scared me so much I had to stop reading for a while. Yet, the most amazing thing about The Lair of Dreams is not about the ghosts, it’s how it’ll pierce your heart and rip it to shreds. It’s heartbreaking and well, I will admit that I sniffed in public. It’s also hilarious, courtesy of our beloved Evie and, surprisingly, Henry.
Verdict
This book is pos-i-tutely swell. It’s just the bee’s knees.
Final Score
4 stars (out of 5 stars)